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Warm weather makes for perfect beach weekend

Jessica Conforti, on vacation from Wayne, N. J., catches some rays at Lido Public Beach on Wednesday.

HERALD-TRIBUNE ARCHIVE / 2013 / DAN WAGNER

STAFF REPORT

Published: Friday, January 11, 2013 at 6:13 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 11, 2013 at 6:13 p.m.

The spring-like feel to Southwest Florida is set to continue, making for a perfect beach or outdoor weekend.

Facts

RECORD HIGHS

Record high temperatures this week:

Jan. 9: 87 degrees. Old record: 84 degrees, 1989

Jan. 10: 85 degrees. Old record: 83 degrees, 1989

Record high minimum: 67 degrees. Old record: 65 degrees, 1937

Jan. 11: 85 degrees. Old record: 84 degrees, 1991

Normal: High, 71 degrees; Low, 52 degrees

According to Mote Marine Laboratory's beach conditions report, water along beaches in Manatee and Sarasota counties was clear, with no sightings of dead fish on Friday. Some dead fish were reported near Gasparilla Island in Charlotte County.

To check the status of red tide at area beaches, go to Mote Marine Laboratory's Beach Conditions Report online at mote.org/beaches or call 941-BEACHES.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also has a monitoring site at myfwc.com.

The Sarasota-Bradenton area set record high temperature for the third consecutive day Friday, hitting 85 degrees.

That topped the old mark of 84 degrees set in 1991.

Temperatures are not forecast to reach that high Saturday and Sunday, topping out at about 80 degrees, with lows around 62.

But that is still well above the normal temperature of 71 degrees for this time in January. Nighttime temperatures will also be higher, and forecasters expect the high pressure system responsible for the unseasonably warm weather to persist well into next week, meaning more records could fall.

Meanwhile, the red tide that has been lingering off the Southwest Florida coast has stayed to the south, and concentrations are low in south Sarasota County, meaning beachgoers can breathe easier.

Beach water was reported clear and no dead fish were reported for most of Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Low concentrations of the red tide organism were present from south Sarasota County into Charlotte, but conditions had improved compared to last week.

<p>The spring-like feel to Southwest Florida is set to continue, making for a perfect beach or outdoor weekend.</p><p>The Sarasota-Bradenton area set record high temperature for the third consecutive day Friday, hitting 85 degrees.</p><p>That topped the old mark of 84 degrees set in 1991.</p><p>Temperatures are not forecast to reach that high Saturday and Sunday, topping out at about 80 degrees, with lows around 62.</p><p>But that is still well above the normal temperature of 71 degrees for this time in January. Nighttime temperatures will also be higher, and forecasters expect the high pressure system responsible for the unseasonably warm weather to persist well into next week, meaning more records could fall.</p><p>Meanwhile, the red tide that has been lingering off the Southwest Florida coast has stayed to the south, and concentrations are low in south Sarasota County, meaning beachgoers can breathe easier.</p><p>Beach water was reported clear and no dead fish were reported for most of Manatee and Sarasota counties.</p><p>Low concentrations of the red tide organism were present from south Sarasota County into Charlotte, but conditions had improved compared to last week.</p>